Type-writing machine.



No. 690,!2i].- Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

W. J. PHELPS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.)

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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N0.- 690,!20. Patentd Dec. 3|, 190i.

W. J. PHELPS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P1621 56; a 171 vmZbr.

N0. 590,!20. Patented Dec. 3|, I90l. W. J. PHELPS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. (Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.) (N0 Moduli) 6 Sheets-$heat 3.

m: NORRIS Farms co, Pnmoumo. wAsnmc-To n. c.

N0. BQUJ'ZU. Patented Dec. 31, 190i.

W. J. PHELPS. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.)

6 Shams-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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No. 690,120. Patented Dec. 3|, 190i.

' w. J. PHELPS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

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No. 690,120. Patentad Dec. 3|, I90l.

w. J. PHELPS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE;

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-$heat 6.

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l/VILLIAM J PHELPS, OF ELMWOOD, ILLINOIS.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent no. 690,120, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed April 7, 1897. Serial No. 631,169. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmwood, in the county of'Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in or Attachment for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a speci fication.

The object of my invention is to provide means through mechanism operated by a key or space bar for moving the paper and the printing-center in a type-writing machine step by step relatively to one another in a direction opposite to the step-by-step movement of writing.

Usually my invention will be applied to that class of writing-machines in which the paper is moved relatively to the printing-point to secure line and letter feeding.

In using a type-writing machine it is frequently desirable to move the paper-carriage back over the line already written-as, for instance, when a wrong letter has just been struck and the operator wishes to print a right one over it. A considerable time and a taxing effort of the attention are required in setting back the paper-carriage one, two, or any precise number of letter-spaces. Grasping any convenient part (usually with the left hand) the operator must push the paper-carriage against the pressure of the feedingspring while gaging the movement by watching a scale or listening for the click of a ratchet. Owing to the weight of the parts and the tension of the feeding-spring the carriage is often moved past the required point and must be further adjusted by successive depressions of the space-bar. Myimprovement enables these complex operations to be effected by the depression of an auxiliary reverse space-key which requires no more time and no greater effort of the attention than is demanded in operating the usual forward spacing-bar.

In the accompanying drawings like parts are indicated by like characters.

Figure 1 shows a plan View of my invention as applied to the Densmore type-writer, illustrating the general construction of the device when used in connection with those machines which secure the letter-feed by means of a ratchet-bar and pawl. Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 looking toward the right side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the Remington typewriter, showing my device in position and illustrating the manner of applying my invention to that class of writing-machines in which a circular ratchet or star wheel is the chief component of the letter-feed. Figs. 3 and 3 show, respectively, a plan and elevation of enlarged details. Fig. 4: is avertical section of Fig. 3, but showing in addition thereto a p ortion of the forward feeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the frame of a type-writing machine, showing a rod or bar and friction-clutch which may be used when it is desired to apply my invention to old type-writers as an attachment. Fi g. 5 shows a portion of Fig. 5 in section. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the frame of a Densmore type-writer, B the platen, and C a portion of the paper-carriage, to which is secured the feed-ratchet D. By means of dogs, one of which is shown at E, the papercarriage is held against the pressure of the feeding-spring (not shown) and moved step by step from right to left. In order to effect a step-by-step movement in the opposite direction1l. a, from left to right-I use the bell-crank pawl F, which is normally out of engagement, as shown in the figure. G is a reverse space-key, preferably placed at the left of the usual type-keys and secured to the key-bar H. The keybar II is connected through the link I, the lever J, the shaft K, the lever L, and the link M with the lever N, which is secured to the upright shaft 0 and communicates a rotative oscillation thereto.

The shaft 0 is carried in bearings P and Q,.

secured to the frame in a suitable free space. The arm R, carried on the upper end of the shaft 0, has the pawl F pivoted at its free end. S is a stop to limit the forward movement of the arm R. T, Fig. 1, is an adjustable stop adapted to engage the projection F of the pawl F and throw the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet D whenever the lever B oscillates to the extreme left. The spring U tends to carry the pawl F into engagement with the ratchet D. A coil-spring V, Fig. 2, on shaft 0 and a spiral spring W, Fig. 2, on key-bar II serve to restore all the parts to the normal position shown in the figure. If now the reverse space-key be depressed, the bar H, through the bell-crank mechanism J K L and the links I and M, will cause the shaft 0 and the arm R to swing toward the right. Projection F will leave stop T and spring U will then swing pawl F into engagement with one of the teeth of ratchet D. The further movement of the arm R toward the right will carry ratchetD and papercarriage 0 far enough to set the same back one letter-space, in which position it will be held by the spring-dogs at E. On releasing key G, Fig. 2, the springs V and W will restore I all the parts to the normal position shown in the figures.

Referring to Fig. 3, A is the frame of a type-writing machine. B is a toothed rack secured to the paper-carriage, a portion of which is shown at O. The ratchet-wheel D is carried on a shaft which receives motion from a pinion in engagement with rack B. For clearness the usual forward feeding mechanism is omitted from this figure. P is a support which is secured to the frame A in a suitable free space and is preferably located so that the pivot R of the lever R shall be coincident with the axis of ratchet D. The lever R carries at its free end the bellcrank pawl F, which is pressed into engagein the figure, in which position the adjustable stop T throws the pawl F out of engagement with the ratchet D. Ratchet D is then free to revolve step by step in the same direction as the hands of a watch under the influence of the feeding-spring and the usual forward spacing mechanism, thereby through rack B feeding the paper-carriage from left to right, Fig. 3. In order to effect a step-bystep movement of the paper-carriage in an opposite directionc. e., from right to left, Fig. 3the reverse space-key is depressed, which, through the medium of shaft K and the levers and links I, J, L, and M, already .described, communicates an upward movement to the lever R. Pawl F leaves the stop and is'immediately pressed into engagement with a tooth on ratchet D, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 far enough to set the paper-carriage back one letter-space and enable it to be held in that position by the usual mechanism provided. On releasing the reverse space-key the coil-spring V restores the parts to the position shown in the heavy lines, Fig. 3", whence the operation may be repeated.

Referring now to Fig. 4, A is a portion of the frame of a Remington type-writer shown l in section, B is the platen, and O a portion of the paper-carriage, to which is secured the toothed rack B, engaging the pinion 24 on shaft 25. Shaft 25 carries the ratchet D and the ratchet or star wheel 26. P is a support to which the'lever R is pivoted. G is a reverse space-key, preferably at the left of the letter-keys, and H a key-bar connectedto lever B through the links I and M, the levers J and L, and the rock-shaft K. The parts 27 28 29 are a portion of the forward feeding mechanism acting with the star-wheel 26.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, A is a portion of a type-writer frame; 0, a portion of the paper-carriage; B, a toothed rack, and 24, 25, 26, and 27 portions of the forward feeding mechanism. per-carriage in a suitable free space at the rear of same. F is a friction-clutch having a projection N and a projection O.- P is a support carrying the adjustable stop T and the spring U. The link M, operating with the bell-crank K K, connects the key-bar of a reverse space-key (not shown)-with the projection O of the friction-pawl. SpringV serves to restore the parts to the normal posit-ion shown in the figure.

Referring to Fig. 5, the rod D is shown in section. F is an end view of the friction-ring clutch, surrounding rod D and fitted with the projections N and O. The support P curves over the rod D, so as to bring the stop T 0pposite the projection N. Bell-crank K K and bar M and. rod I serve to connect projection O with an actuatingkey. (Not shown.)

WVhen the axis of the friction-ring clutch F is parallel with that of the rod D, the construction is such that the latter is free to move in either direction; but when the parallelism is disturbed F will bind and take hold of D. If new the reverse space-key be depressed, the link M will swing the projection 0 toward the left,Fig. 5. The spring U will tend to resist the forward movementof projection Nand will by the end of the stop T until the friction ring clutch F has taken hold of D, preventing further revolution. A further movement of the link M toward the left carries F away from stop T, distends the spring U, and moves the rod D, and by that means the paper-carriage to which it is attached, backward (toward the left, Fig. 5) approximately one letter-space, in which position it will be held by the mechanism usually provided for letter-feeding. On releasing the reverse space-key link M will move to the right under the influence of spring V. The friction-ring clutch F will be released from the rod D and will slide along the same until it strikes-the stop T and assumes the position (normal) shown in the figures. The friction-ring clutch F is prevented from taking hold of D during its backward movement by the spring U and the stop T.

1 frame A, through which one arm of the bellcrank K K projects.

cause F'to revolve about a center represented The rod D is secured to the pa- The oscillation of M is limited by the slot in Obviously the application of my invention to the several type-writing machines now being manufactured or which may be manufactured will be attended with various modifications in the details of construction in order to accommodate them as nearly as possible to existing designs and secure cheapness and convenience of manufacture. Therefore I do not wish to be limited by the special construction shown in any of the drawings herewith; but

I broadly claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a type-writing machine with a paper-carriage and mechanism for feeding the same step by step from right to left so as to print letters in a line from left to right, of a rod or bar attached to the carriage, a frictiomclutch adapted to engage the same, normally disengaged from said rod or bar, and key mechanism adapted to operate said clutch, whereby a step-by-step movement of the carriage from left to right is efiected, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a type-writing machine with a paper-carriage and mechanism for feeding the same step by step from right to left, of a rod or bar attached to the carriage, a short sleeve normally sliding free on said rod, a projection or arm on said sleeve and a link leading from a key-actuated system, whereby when the key is depressed, the said sleeve is made to grip the said bar and move the paper-carriage from left to right.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

Z. L. GILBERT, LUCY A. BoWERs. 

